Rajeev Suri

Rajeev Suri – Life, Career, and Influence

Explore the journey of Rajeev Suri (born October 10, 1967) — Indian-origin, Singaporean business executive, former CEO of Nokia, current CEO of Inmarsat. His leadership, transformations, and legacy.

Introduction

Rajeev Suri (born 10 October 1967) is an Indian-born businessman who has become a prominent figure in global telecommunications and satellite communications. He served as CEO of Nokia and, since 2021, leads Inmarsat. His career is marked by bold transformations, adaptability across geographies, and leadership in high-technology industries. As a bridge between the legacy telecom world and the evolving satellite connectivity future, his story offers lessons in strategic pivoting, resilience, and global leadership.

Early Life and Background

Rajeev Suri was born on October 10, 1967, in New Delhi, India. Kuwait, where his family relocated. His upbringing across national boundaries nurtured an international mindset early on.

For his education, Suri obtained a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electronics and Communications from the Manipal Institute of Technology (then affiliated with Mangalore University) in India.

His early exposure to engineering and communications laid the foundation for his later path in telecommunications and network infrastructure.

Career and Achievements

Early Career & Entry into Nokia

Before joining Nokia, Suri gathered experience in multinational firms including ICL (International Computers Limited) and other technology or electronics firms in India and Nigeria. Nokia in 1995, marking the starting point of a long and influential tenure within the company.

Within Nokia, Suri held various roles across strategy, sales, business units, and leadership assignments, working in multiple geographies (Asia, Africa, Europe).

Rise in Nokia & NSN

In October 2009, Suri became CEO of Nokia Solutions and Networks (NSN) following the merger of Nokia Networks and Siemens Networks.

CEO of Nokia

In April 2014, Rajeev Suri was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Nokia, succeeding Stephen Elop.

As CEO, Suri steered Nokia toward becoming a stronger player in the network and equipment domain, investing in research and development, emphasizing 5G technologies, and integrating acquisitions like Alcatel-Lucent.

In March 2020, it was announced that Suri would step down; Pekka Lundmark succeeded him in August 2020.

CEO of Inmarsat & Later Roles

On February 24, 2021, Rajeev Suri joined Inmarsat as its CEO, taking over from Rupert Pearce.

In November 2023, he was also appointed Chairman of the Digicel Group.

Board & Public Roles

Beyond executive roles, Suri has served in several high-visibility external positions. He is a Commissioner of the United Nations Broadband Commission and has been involved with digitalization initiatives in the B20 and at the World Economic Forum.

Leadership Style & Strategic Philosophy

Rajeev Suri is often characterized as a turnaround specialist — someone able to guide organizations through disruptive transitions and positioning them for future growth. His approach emphasizes:

• Strategic pivoting: He has overseen transitions from legacy telecom to next-generation networks and now into satellite connectivity.

• Bold restructuring: He has made tough decisions, including workforce reductions and refocusing business priorities, to align operations with market realities.

• Global mindset: His international background and work across continents give him sensitivity to cross-cultural operations and global market dynamics.

• Technology orientation: While a business leader, he retains grounding in engineering and technical infrastructure, giving him credibility in tech sectors.

Suri also seems to value resilience, adaptability, and long-term vision — particularly in industries that undergo rapid technological shifts.

Legacy, Impact & Influence

Even with ongoing roles, several elements of Suri’s emerging legacy are visible:

1. Telecommunications transformation: His stewardship at Nokia helped reposition the company from its consumer electronics past into a competitive infrastructure and network provider in the 5G era.

2. Satellite connectivity leadership: By leading Inmarsat, he is now participating in bridging the terrestrial-satellite connectivity gap — a frontier in global communications.

3. Inspirational career for Indian diaspora: As a person born in India but operating at the highest levels of global tech corporations, his career inspires professionals from emerging economies.

4. Policy and global advocacy: Through his roles in broadband and digital commissions, he contributes to shaping telecommunications policy, equity of access, and global connectivity agendas.

In time, his legacy may be defined not just by the companies he led, but by how he helped knit together terrestrial and satellite networks, and how he modeled leadership in the face of ongoing digital revolutions.

Personal Life

Rajeev Suri holds Singaporean citizenship while maintaining strong ties to his Indian roots. Singapore and London, and previously has resided in Finland during his Nokia tenure.

He is married to Nina Alag Suri, a businesswoman and founder/CEO of a Singapore startup X0pa.ai. two sons, Ankit and Anish.

He is also known to take personal interest in fitness and health, though public details are limited.

Memorable Statements & Philosophy

While Rajeev Suri is more often quoted in corporate press releases and interviews than epigrammatic quotations, here are some themes emerging from his public commentary:

• He has often stressed the importance of connectivity as a human right and the role of satellite networks in reaching underserved regions.

• He underscores that business transformation must match shifts in technology and market demand — not every legacy model survives digital disruption.

• In interviews, he has also emphasized learning agility, resilience under uncertainty, and maintaining an engineering perspective even when leading large organizations.